Kitchen cabinets



Sept. 22, 1964 Filed Jan. 13, 1961 N. LEVENBERG KITCHEN CABINETS 3Sheets-Sheet l Mimi Sept. 22; 1964 Filed Jan. 13, 1961 FQ. l/4

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United States Patent 3,149,587 KITCHEN 'CABINETS Nat Levenberg, 2Windsor Place, Lynbrook, N.Y. Filed Jan. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 82,435 1Claim. (Cl. 10S-152) This invention relates generally to cabinets andmore particularly to improved kitchen cabinet construction, althoughthese improvements may be used in other cabinetry as well.

A large proportion of kitchen cabinets are stored and shipped in a setup condition, necessitating large storage space and expensivetransportation, thereby curtailing the distribution area. It is,therefore, among the objects of the present invention to provide animproved knockeddown construction resulting in small storage spacerequirements and low cost shipping.

Another object is to provide a construction which is easily set up andinstalled, needing only a screw driver.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lightweight but strongconstruction which reduces cost in a number of ways, including usingsurrounding building surfaces such as walls and ceilings together withlow cost extrusions and panels. y

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fullyappear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in theappended claim.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE l is a perspective View of wall and base cabinets of anembodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing hinge and doorconnection and adjacent structure.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View as seen from theplane 4-4 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4A is a fragmentary perspective view of an upper tenon member.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view as seen from theplane 5-5 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational View of an end panel for a basecabinet partially assembled (6-6 on FIGURE FIGURE 7 is a fragmentaryelevational view, taken from inside a wall cabinet, a rear view seenfrom the left of FIGURE 8. v

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a wall cabinet. l

FIGURE 9 is a reduced fragmentary horizontal section, seen from theplane 9-9 on FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of an end panel. y

FIGURE 1l is a fragmentary vertical elevational view of a rear supportfor a drawer guide in a base cabinet.

FIGURE 12 is a front elevational view as seen from the plane 12-12 onFIGURE 11. l

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary perspective View of a wall cabinet rearvertical support element and shelf rsupport member.

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken from inside a basecabinet looking forward, as seen from the plane 14-14 on FIGURE 15.

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary vertical section of the front portion of abase cabinet.

FIGURE 16 is a vertical section corresponding to FIGURE 15 but showingthe upper rear portion of a base cabinet.

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary elevational view seen from the plane 17--17on FIGURE 16.

In general, the invention contemplates, in some of it`s Hice majoraspects, the elimination of the top and rear walls of the wall cabinets,the rear and bottom walls of the base cabinets, and the end walls ofboth cabinets where they abut an adjoining room wall. Furthermore, thevertical frame elements of the wall and base cabinets are suspended orsupported by interlocking vertical elements which are horizontallyadjustable in position so that doors and drawers may be selected to suitthe total horizontal space and the choice of the user. In addition, aminimum of part types, plus certain interchangeability, affords maximumflexibility to accommodate yfor any installation but with low inventoryrequirements. This novel structure allows selection of exposeddecorative surface panels, too.

Turning to an upper or wall cabinet assembly, generally indicated byreference character 11, this may comprise broadly: intermediate rearvertical support element 14; upper front horizontal support element 16;upper front vertical support element 18; intermediate front horizontalsupport element 20; intermediate front vertical support element 22;lower front horizontal support element 23; top sliding doors 24;intermediate hinged doors 26; top shelf 28; intermediate shelves 30; andend walls 32.

The intermediate rear vertical support element 14 (FIGURE 13) ispreferably an extrusion composed, for example, of aluminum or synthetic'resin and is generally T-shaped in cross section with a base 34,central flange 36, edge beads 37, the ange -36 being provided with avertical row of holes 38 adapted to receive shelf support members 40.The members 40 are generally U-shaped but of irregular configuration,best seen in FIGURE 13, and including a cross piece 41 with a centralcrimp 42, legs 43 and feet 44. The crimp 42 is engaged by the edge of ahole 38 when the member 40 is half passed through and a twisting motionsnaps the member 40 into iixed position where the two horizontalL-shaped portions formed by the cross piece 41 and the legs 43 serve tosupport the rear corners of the horizontally disposed shelves 30. Theshelves 30 may be of a width sufficient to extend between oppositecentral anges 36 or bigger shelves may be used, ynotched to pass saidflange 36. The top shelf 28 at the rear thereof rests on the upper `ends4S of the support elements 14, while the lower ends of the elements 14extend down only far enough to hold the lowest member 40 to support thelowest shelf 30 The base 34 is connected to the building wall 47 in anysuitable manner, as by cement, masonry nails, screws 15 (FIGURE 4), orthe like.

The upper front horizontal support element 16 is preferably a metal orVplastic extrusion, the cross sectional configuration of which. is best"seen in FIGURE 8. The base 48 is secured to the ceiling 49 by cement5l) and screws 51 for which the base 48 is suitably perforated.Depending from the base 4S are a plurality of flanges 52, y53 and 54.The front fiange S2 serves as a fascia and between it and the middlefiange 53 is formed a channel wherein the upper 'edges of the slidingtop doors 24 ride. Rear flange 54 includes a horizontally offset portion55 which provides vertical support for upper connector 56 which isslidably (horizontally) keyed to the flanges 53 and 54, but suchmovement is prevented after assembly because when the parts arestraightened to the V'position shown in FIGURE 8 a wedging action takesplace. Rearward twisting vof*movement is prevented by the head 57butting against the base 48'; while forward twisting lr'nove'rnent isprevented by the portion of the connector 56 which contacts the portion55 and adjacent surfaces and the portion 58 which contacts the loweredge of flange '53. It Should be noted that the reinforcing portion 63of connector 56 prevents rearward bending or collapse of flange portiony55, the direction in which it could go in the case of overload, so thatvertical support load is limited by tensile 'strength of web 64. Forwardtwisting is also prevented by the upper end 59 of element 18 butting thelower edge of ange 52.

The lower portion of connector 56 has a dovetail groove 60, a roundedlower portion 61, and a sloping rear portion 62, and the upper end 59 ofelement 18 is correspondingly cut out so that element 18 is maintainedvertically against front or rear movement.

The intermediate front horizontal support element 2t) is preferably ametal or plastic extrusion, best seen in FIGURE 8. The base 65 has,projecting upward, three flanges 66, 67 and 68, and a downward ange 69.The front flange 66 and middle flange 67 form a channel for the loweredges of doors 24. Rear flange 63 has a horizontal offset portion 70which provides vertical support for lower connector 71, slidably(horizontally) keyed to flanges 67 and 68, but horizontal movement isprevented after assembly by the weight of the parts and contents of thecabinet and a Wedging takes place when the parts are straightened to theposition shown in FIGURE 8. Relative rearward twisting movement ofrounded portion 72 is prevented by the head 74 butting against base 65and adjacent surfaces, while relative forward twisting movement ofportion 72 is prevented at offset portion '713 and the upper edge offlange 67.

The upper portion of connector 71 has a dovetail groove 73 and a slopingrear portion 75, and the lower end 76 of element 18 is thus securelyheld in place. Overloading would tend to bend flange 68 rearward but itis supported against this by the head 74.

The upper front vertical support elements 18 are T- Shaped in crosssection and preferably identical to the rear ones 14 (FIGURE 13) havingfront bases 77v and central anges 78, and their height is determined bythe height of sliding doors 24.

The downward flange 69 on element 20 forms the upper margin of thehinged door enclosed portion of the Wall cabinets 11 and theintermediate front vertical support elements 22 are suspended therefromby combination connector hinges 80. Where the particular element 22 lieshorizontally between doors 26 at their hinged edges a double unit suchas that shown in FIGURE 3 is utilized, and where only one hinged edge ispresent (as at the end vertical edge of a cabinet) a modified unit,containing only one hinge, is utilized (compare lower portion of FIGUREThe connector hinge 80 has a body 81, to the upper surface at the frontportion of which are pivotally connected the relatively movable L-shapedhinge members S3 and 84. The relatively free ends of members 83 and 84are in the form of fingers with threaded holes (substantially identicalwith the members 184 and 183 on FIGURE 3) which are inserted incorrespondingly positioned holes in the respective doors 26. At the rearedge of the body 81 there are a pair of right-angle bent ears 85 and 86which have pins 87 and 88. The flanges 69 and the support elements 22are provided with aligned slots, which are of sufficient size to allowpassage ofthe ears 85 and 86 therethrough in a curving direction throughapproximately 90 until the pins 87 and SS may be received bycorrespondingly sized and positioned receptacles S9. There is enoughroom and permissible movement for this operation when the hinge members83 and 84 are not yet engaged by the doors. After such engagement,however, the connector hinges 80 are substantially stationary withrespect to the ange 69 and element 22.

The length of elements 22 is substantially equal to the height of doors26, and at the lower ends 9) of elements 22 are connected to the lowerfront horizontal support 23 (except for the inverted position of thecombination connector hinges Stia) in a manner like that just describedin connection with the hinges 80. The support 23 is preferably L-shapedin section, and concealed by the closed doors 26, and lies below thelowerrnost shelf 30. Elements 22 are perforated at 38a to correspondwith elements 14, and shelf support members 40 carry the front cornersof shelves 30.

When the upper wall cabinet lies between two opposed substantiallyparallel building walls, the parts can be sized horizontally so that nocabinet end walls 32 are required. When this is not the case end walls32 are utilized. This structure is shown in FIGURES l, 4, 4A, 8, 9 andl0. The end walls 32 are substantially identical, being leftandright-hand counterparts, the corresponding parts having the samereference characters. End walls 32 have an outer decorative panel 91held in place by edge frame members 92, 93, 94 and 95, of irregularsection, best seen in FIGURE l0, so that, as mitered, a peripheralinwardly opening channel 96 is formed with inner grooved flanges92b-95b. Members 92-95 have inwardly directed right angle anges 92a-95a,respectively, which are connected to or associated with adjoining parts.Flange 94a may lie forward of base 34 on element 14 and be held byscrews 15 (FIGURE 4) which would normally hold base 34 in place. Nextframe members 92 and 95 are put into place in vertical plane alignmentwith member 44. The grooves 97 in grooved flanges 94b and 95b line up atright angles with the groove 97 in ange 92h, and the upper right angletenon members 98 are put into place into said grooves. Altogether thereare four tenon members for each end wall 32. The upper two (FIG- URES 4Aand l0) have each leg semicircular in cross section with integral fixeddowels 99, and they tit flush into grooves 97, the dowels penetratingcorrespondingly positioned holes in said grooves.

Next, the panel 91 is slid into channel 96 in an upward direction and assoon as tenon members 98 are covered they can no longer be removed, sothat the panel 91 locks frame members 92 to members 95 and 94. rIhelower two tenon members 98a have in their horizontal legs permanentlysecured dowels which engage holes in the groove of flange 93b, but theVertical legs have holes. Now the member 93 is moved vertically up intoposition so that its channel 96 engages the remaining edge of panel 91and the vertical legs of tenon members 98a tit into the grooves inflanges 94b and 95]? (FIGURE 4). Finally the pins 101 are passed throughthe aligned holes in the grooves 97 in anges 94h and 95b which locks theparts together; The pins 101 are manipulated inside the cabinet. Nownecessary combination connector hinges and Stia are put into placesecuring iiange a.

Additional support may be given the flange 92a by screws 102, flange 92abeing cut back to allow clearance for the base 48 of element 16. A stop103 may close the end of the channel within which the sliding doors 26are located.

Turning to the base cabinet assembly, generally indicated by referencecharacter 111, this may comprise broadly :v a counter top 112; upperrear horizontal support element 113; lower rear vertical support element114; upper front horizontal support element 116; front vertical supportelement 122; intermediate front horizontal support element 120; lowerfront horizontal support element 123; drawers 124; hinged doors 126;drawer guides 128; shelves 130; and end walls 132.

The upper rear horizontal support element 113 is preferably an extrusionextending substantially the full length of the base cabinet. It iscomposed, for example, of aluminum of synthetic'resin and is ofirregular configuration, best seen in FIGURE J16. The base 127 may besecured to wall 147 by adhesive cement and screws 115, and has a forwardupper angular lip 117 and a lower lip 119. The lip 119 forms a channelalong which connectors 121 may be placed in selected positions. The lip117 diverges forward from the wall 147 so that even when the wall 147 isnot flat the counter top rear support may be adequately engaged. Theconnectors 121 need not be Very wide, for example 11/2 inches, and theyserve to carry upper ends of the elements 114 which are T-shaped incross section.

The elements 114 include a base 134 and a central flange 136. Flange 136is provided with a series of spaced holes 138 to receive shelf supportmembers 140 which are identical with the members 40 (FIGURE 13), whilebase 134 has edge beads 137 to coact with members 140. Elements 114 atthe lower ends 146 thereof rest on the iloor 200, while at the upperends a portion of central Iiange 136 is removed and the remaining base134 is bent to form a hook 145 which engages into connector 121.

Connector 121 is used where a vertical element 114 will be used tosupport the rear corners of shelves 130 by members 140 thereon. In thoselocations along base cabinet 111 where the rear ends of drawer guides125 are supported, structure shown in FIGURES 11 and 12 is used. Herethe upper end of the drawer supports 12S are hooked onto the lower lip119 while the forwardly extending horizontal brackets 129 are at thesame level as the element 120.

It is to be noted that the engagement of the connectors 121 and the reardrawer guide supports 128 with the lip 119 aiiords a high degree offlexibility and adjustment while at the same time providing a rigidstructure. The connectors 121 and supports 128 are put in place with atwisting motion which first hooks them onto the lip 119 and then whenthe connectors 121 and the supports 128 are swung down into a verticalposition they become rigidly self-clamped to a solid connection in whichthey are xed against movement longitudinally of the lip 119.

Since the structure of the upper portions of connectors 121 and supports128 is substantially identical, description of one will describe theother as well. Connector 121 has a downwardly directed tongue 131 whichhas first and second opposed protuberances which are vertically offset(FIGURE 16), the iirst or rear protuberance being lower than the secondor front one. The distance between the crowns of the two protuberances(horizontally front torear) is slightly greater than the width of thetrough formed between the lip 119 and the base 127. The inner surface ofthe lip 119 adjoining the upper edge thereof is provided with a thirdrearwardly extending protuberance. When canted as shown in the dot-dashlines on FIGURE 16, the effective transverse distance between rst andsecond protuberances is substantially equal to the width of said troughat its narrowest part (at the level of the third protuberance). Thisallows the connector 121 to be slidably lowered into said trough. Whenthe connector is moved to its vertical position, a wedging action occursin the trough so that sliding along the horizontal element 113 isprevented. Furthermore, any tendency of the connector 121 to rise isprevented by the third protuberance which is on the inner surface of lip119. As seen in FIG. 16, hook 145 is angularly insertable into connector121 (dot-dash lines) but is retained (full lines) because rearwardmovement past Vertical of element 114 is prevented by wall 147.

The upper front horizontal support element 116 is preferably anextrusion and includes a flat top liange 148 which is secured to theunder surface of the counter top 112 by cement or screws 151. The frontiiange 152 is disposed at the exact distance from wall 147 to determinethe depth of the base cabinet. The connecting portion 153 isapproximately a half circle so that the rounded hook 179 formed in thecentral ange 178 of element 122 may iirst be engaged by rotating thesame clockwise (as viewed in FIGURE 15) about portion 153 and thenrotatring the hook 179 in a counterclockwise,direction until the curvedlock member 174 is engaged under the portion 152. The upper edge 173butting against the ledge 172 places the element 122 in verticalposition, where it is held when the shelves 130 and drawer guides 125are put in place.

The elements 122 have bases 177 and central flanges 178, the latterbeing notched to receive the elements 120 and 123 which are partiallyheld in position by clip elements 104 and 105. All of the clip elementsare identical so a detailed description of one will suice for all. Clipelement 104- is preferably formed of resilient sheet material such asspring steel, aluminum alloy or the like, and comprises a body 111having a pair of openings which align with corresponding openings in thebase 177 and through which the ears 185 and 186 of the combinationconnector hinge 180 pass during assembly. Clip element 104 has a pair ofupper vertical clip members 106 and lower clip members 107 which areadapted to engage, in snap fashion, the outer vertical edges of the base177 and the beads 137. Clip element 104 also has upper horizontal clipmembers 108 and lower horizontal clip members 109. The members 108 snapon to engage the upper horizontal flange of the element 120 whilemembers 109 snap on to engage the lower vertical ilange of the element120. Clip element is put on in an inverted position (see lower portionof FIGURE 15 With the clip elements 104 and 105 in place, theinstallation of the combination connector hinges 180ov is a simpleprocedure, substantially identical with that described above withreference to the combination connector hinges 80, the insertion of pins187 and 188 into aligned holes in the elements 120 and 123 and the base177, and the placing of the doors 126 secures the parts in operatingpositions. The placing of the doors 126 is illustrated in FGURE 3, thedoors being finally secured by the screws 133 which engage the door andthe threaded holes 135.

In connection with the door and hinge construction, by cutting back thecorners of the doors at the pivoting edges thereof, the hinge membersmay be fully recessed so that said pivoting edges may lie closely nextto each other, thereby concealing the front vertical support elements 22and 122. It may also be noted that by virtue of the constructionillustrated in FIGURE 3, two swingable doors may be hung in hingefashion from a single upright and there need be no cabinet lateral wallsat that area. This gives the user considerable freedom of use because ofno compartmenting, although where desired vertical dividers may besecured between the central tianges on the T-shaped opposed (front andrear) uprights.

The same considerations apply to the base cabinets with regard to theend walls 132, so that the structure previously described with referenceto the end walls 32 is substantially equally applicable, except that theedge frame member 193 is inserted from the front of the base cabinet.Certain of the parts corresponding to the equivalent upper wall cabinetstructure, and illustrated in FIGURES 1, 5 and 6, are given the samereference characters with the prex 1.

Installation of the base cabinets is preferably accomplished by firstconnecting element 113, and the requisite number and positioning of rearelements 114, to wall 147. Next the requisite guide supports 128 arehooked on. The necessary shelf supports 140 may be connected to elements114. Since the upper rear horizontal support element 113 serves as ahanger bar, it will not normally be necessary to attach the base 134 tothe wall 147.

Next with the bars 120 and 123 in the cabinet area, at least two of theelements 122 are connected to the element 116. Now the counter top rearsupport is hooked onto'the element 113. The lower ends of elements 122are rested on the floor 200, and the elements and 123 are put into placeusing the clip elements 104 land 105.

Following this, additional elements 122 are installed as required bycatching the hooks 179 on the portions 153 with the elements 122rearwardly canted and they are then swung forward until vertical. Theremaining cross junctures between front upright elements 122 andhorizontal elements 120 and 123 may be connected by clip elements 104and 105, or they may be omitted.

Thus, it will be seen that the clip elements 104 and 105 strengthen theinterconnections between the horizontal elements 120 and 123 and thevertical element to which they are attached. Furthermore, they maintainthe respective orilices `in alignment so that when the combinationconnector hinges 80 and 130 are put in place, they quickly and easilyslide into the proper position. It is, however, possible to obtain aconnection without the clip elements by temporarily aligning the partsas the elements 180 and 80 are put into position.

With the framework of the base cabinet thus set up, it becomes a matterof choice, in some respects, as to the sequence in which the remainingparts are put in place. For example, the drawer guides 12S may now beengaged at that rear end on the brackets 129. This connection may bemade by a dowel relationship, or a hook and orice, or nut and boit, oradhesive. The forwardmost portions of the drawer guides 125 may then besuitably connected to the horizontal elements 120 in a similar manner.This structure is illustrated in dot-dash lines at the upper portions ofFIGURES 14 and 15. Following this, the drawers 124 may be put into placeupon the drawer guides 125.

Now the front shelf support members 140 are put in place at the samelevel as the rear ones previously installed, and the shelves 130 may bedropped into place.

While I have shown the work top 112, as plain, it will be obvious thatwhere desired, a sink may be incorporated, or built in cook tops orrange units.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desired to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodications will occur to a person skilled in the art to which thepresent invention relates.

I claim:

Cabinet shelving construction comprising: a horizontal shelf; a verticalsupport element which is T-shape in cross section, having a base portionand a central ange, said base portion having edge beads projecting inthe same direction as said central ange; said ange having a plurality ofholes of predetermined size arranged in a row; a shelf support member ofgenerally U-shape being formed of an elongated piece of material ofuniform cross section which is a sliding it through any one of saidholes and which is substantially equal in diameter to said holes; saidshelf support member including a cross piece with a central crimp, apair of legs, and a pair of feet on the ends of the ilegs; said legsbeing substantially at right angles to said cross piece and extending adistance equal to the distance of a hole from said base; each of saidfeet being substantially at right angles to its leg and engaged againstsaid base and the nearest rib; said crimp being engaged by the edge of ahole when the shelf supporting member is half passed through said hole,and snapped into ixed position by a twisting motion; said shelf restingon the horizontal L-shaped portions formed by the cross piece and legs.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Jacobset al Dec. 20, 1960

